Rodent trap



Aug. 15, 1939 w ALLEN 2,169,783

RODENT TRAP v Original Filed June 4, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet l Inventor Attorneys W. W. ALLEN RODENI TRAP Aug. 15, 1939 Original Filed June 4, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor 14 m 4%),

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v Attorneys Patented Aug. 15, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Application June 4, 1937, Serial No. 146,481 Renewed February 16, 1939 3 Claims.

:vide a device of this character adapted for automatic, repeated operations to kill and eject a number of rodents in succession from the trap after an initial setting thereof.

Another object is to provide a trap operative for the purposes above set forth and for automatic repeated resetting.

Still another object is the provision of a device of the character and for the purposes above indicated which is simple in construction, in-

expensive to manufacture, strong and durable,

and. reliable in operation.

To the accomplishment of the above, and subordinate objects presently appearing, a preferred embodiment of my invention has been illustrated in the accompanying drawings, set forth in detail in the following description, and defined in the claims appended hereto.

In said drawings:

Figure 1 is a view in vertical longitudinal section of a trap constructed in accordance with my invention the parts being shown in set position,

Figure 2 is a view in top plan with the cover of the trap removed,

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 1 illustrating the relation of the parts of the trap in an intermediate phase of operation thereof,

Figure 4 is a fragmentary VieW'in side elevation of the rear end of the trap, and

Figure 5 is a view in perspective of a combined bait holder and ejector member,

Describing my invention in detail, with reference to the drawings by numerals, in the preferred embodiment thereof my improved trap comprises an elongated substantially rectangular casing I, preferably of metal, having a bottom wall 2, side walls 3, a rear end wall t, an open front end 5 and a cover 6 hinged at one end to the side walls 3 as at 1.

Within the casing l is a vertically swingable plate like dead fall 8 extending substantially from end to end of said casing and having a bifurcated rear end providing rearwardly extending side arms 9 on said dead fall by means of which the latter is swingably mounted at the rear of the casing l, in the longitudinal center thereof, upon a transverse shaft I0 fixed at its opposite ends in the side walls 3 respectively. The front end of the dead fall 8 is shaped to provide a transversely extending angular under face I l thereon for a purpose presently seen. A coil spring I 2 overlying the arms 9 and having its opposite ends coiled around the shaft l0 and anchored in the side walls 3 tensions the dead fall 8 for downward movement. Journalled in the side walls 3 in ad- I vance of the shaft I0, and slightly below the latter, is a transverse crank shaft 13 underlying the arms 9 and including a handcrank [4 at one side of the casing l, exteriorly thereof, and an intermediate crank portion 15 adapted to revolve between the arms 9. A convolute spring It is attached at its opposite ends to one side wall 3 and to the shaft [3, as at I1 and I8 respectively,

to be Wound up by rotation of said shaft in the proper direction 1. e., clockwise, as viewed in m: Figure 4. Fast on the shaft l3, upon opposite sides of the center thereof, is a pair of snail cams l9 designed to wipe under a pair of shoulders on the arms 9, respectively, and to thereby elevate said dead fall 8 against the tension of the spring l2. The shaft l3 and cams l9 are designed for rotation through single revolution cycles of movement, from a full cycle position, under thereaction of the wound spring IE, to release the deadfall 8 in its elevated position and subsequently re-elevate the same during each cycle of operation of said shaft and cams. Such rotation of the shaft l3 and earns I9 is controlled by trip mechanism as follow Below the deadfall 8, and in the front part of the casing I, is a treadle 2| mounted for vertical rocking movement, from a normal position, on a transverse shaft 22 fixed at its opposite ends in the side walls 3 adjacent the bottom wall 2. The treadle 2| comprises a plate-like front tread end 23 and a pair'of upwardly inclined rear side arms 24 terminating in hooked ends 25 extending above the crank shaft l3. Fast on the crank shaft I3, in the planes of the treadle arms 24, respectively, M is a pair of toothed cams 26 adapted to be engaged by the hooked ends 25 of said arms, in the full cycle position of the shaft l3 and cams H), to hold the crank shaft l3 and said cams l9 against rotation at the end of each cycle of operation thereof. A pair of tension springs, as at 21, 4557* suitably secured to the treadle arms 24, and to the sidewalls 3, as at 28, and 29, urge the treadle 2| toward normal position and the hooked ends 25 toward engaging relation to said cams 26.

As will be understood, the normal position of the 599 treadle .2l is established by engagement of the hooked ends 25 with said cams 26.

A piston rod 30 extends forwardy of the casing I from the crank portion l5, between the treadle arms 24, in overlying relation to the front end of over the toothed earns 25 under the urge of the the treadle 2| and has pivotally secured to its front end, as at 3|, an elongated substantially rectangular bait holder 32 having its opposite ends slidably mounted in a pair of guides 33 extending lengthwise along the side walls 3, respectively, and suitably secured thereto intermediate the front end of said treadle 2| and the dead fall 8. As will be manifest, the bait holder 32 is adapted for advance and retraction relative to the open end 5 of the casing I. The bait holder 32 and piston rod 3|! are designed to act as ejector means and to this end the crank portion I5 is arranged to advance and retract said bait holder 32 during each cycle of movement of the shaft l3 from full cycle position, the advance operation occurring during elevation of the dead fall 8. In this connection, the arrangement of the parts is such that the bait holder 32 in its retracted position is in the rear of the face H of the dead fall 8 and clear thereof.

The bait holder 32 is provided with a series of slots 34 for the insertion of suitable bait therein from the front of the trap.

Referring now to the operation of the invention, the initial setting of the trap is accomplished by winding up the spring |6 through the medium of the crank I4. During this winding operation the hooked ends 25 of the treadle arms 24 ratchet over the cams 26 until the crank I4 is released at which point said hooked ends engage springs 21 to hold the shaft l3 against rotation under reaction of the spring l6 and, together with the cams IS, in full cycle position illustrated in Figure 1. In this position of the parts, the treadle 2| is in normal position, the cams |9 positioned under the shoulders 20 to elevate the dead fall 8 and to release said dead fall upon initial rotation of the shaft l3 and said cams |9. The crank portion I5, the piston rod 3|], and the bait holder 32 are in retracted position in the guides 33 and in the rear of the tread end 23, and also of the under face ll of the dead fall 8. The trap is now set for operation. As soon as a rodent enters the open end 5 of the casing and bears its weight upon the tread end 23 of the treadle 2|, the latter is rocked from normal position against the tension of the springs 21, thereby disengaging the hooked ends 25 from the cams 26. The shaft l3, cams I9, and 26, are now rotated through a single cycle of operation during which the following operations take place. Upon initial movement of the cams l9 from full cycle position said cams move from beneath the shoulders 20, there- 55 ,by releasing the deadfall 8 for downward movement under the urge of spring |2 onto the back of the rodent. At this point, it should be explained that the spring l2 is designed to react against the deadfall 8 so as to cause the downstroke of the latter to kill the rodent. Manifestly, during the initial rotation of the shaft l3, the bait holder 32 is advanced slightly, the parts being arranged to permit such advancement initially without interference between the baitholder and deadfall 8 and the latter being held in slightly elevated position by engagement of the inclined under face H with the carcass of the rodent. Shortly after release of the deadfall 8 by the cams l9, and descent of said deadfall, said cams I9 again engage under the shoulders 2|] and impart elevating force to the deadfall thereby releasing the rodent from between said deadfall and the tread end 23 of the treadle 2| Simultaneously with the elevation of the deadfall 8 the bait holder 32 is moved forwardly, or advanced, against the carcass of the rodent and the latter is ejected thereby from the casing In the last half of the cycle of movement of the shaft [3 and cams l9 and 26, the bait holder 32 is retracted to starting position. As the shaft l3, cams l9 and 25 reach full cycle position the hooked ends 25 of the treadle arms 24 snap over the toothed cams 26 under the action of the springs 21 thereby resetting the parts of the trap as will be clear. The trap is now set for repeat operation as previously described. The under face H of the deadfall 8 is a particular feature of the invention being designed to define a sharp edge for impact against the body of the rodent to kill the same.

The operation of my invention, together with the details of construction thereof, will be clear from the foregoing without further explanation.

Manifestly, the invention, as described, is susceptible of modification without departing from the inventive concept, and it is to be understood that right is herein reserved to all such modifications falling within the scope of the claims appended hereto.

What I claim is:

1. A rodent trap including a deadfall, a treadle, and means to automatically operate said deadfall repeatedly under control of said treadle, and including a reactive motor, a crank shaft beneath said deadfall and operative by said motor, a cam fast on said shaft for engagement with the underside of said deadfall and operative as an incident to single revolution cycles of operation thereof to elevate and release said deadfall, and cooperating trip devices on said shaft and treadle, respectively, for blocking operation of said shaft and cam at the end of each cycle of operation thereof.

2. A rodent trap including a deadfall, a treadle beneath said deadfall operative under the weight of a rodent thereon, an ejector adapted for reciprocation over said treadle, and means to automatically operate said deadfall and said ejector under control of said treadle and including a reactive motor, a crankshaft operative by said motor, cams fast on said shaft and operative as an incident to single revolution cycles of operation thereof to elevate and release said deadfall, a piston rod operatively connected to said crankshaft and ejector, respectively, and cooperating trip devices on said shaft and treadle, respectively, for blocking operation of said shaft and cams at the end of each cycle of operation thereof.

3. A rodent trap including a deadfall, a treadle beneath said deadfall operative under the weight of a rodent thereon, an ejector adapted for reciprocation over said treadle, and means to automatically operate said deadfall and said ejector under the control of said treadle and including a reactive motor, a crank shaft operative by said motor, devices fast on said shaft and operative as an incident to single revolution cycles of operation thereof to elevate and release said deadfall, a piston rod operatively connected to said crank shaft and ejector, respectively, and cooperating devices on said shaft and treadle, respectively, for blocking operation of said shaft and devices thereon at the end of each cycle of operation thereof.

WILLARD W. ALLEN, 

